Experts, politicians warn of protests as Iran’s economic crisis deepens

A prominent sociologist in Tehran has warned that Iran could face widespread protests if the government fails to improve the country’s worsening financial situation and curb rising prices.

Taghi Azad Armaki told Etemad, a pro-reform newspaper supporting President Masoud Pezeshkian, that without lifting US sanctions a wave of protests over socio-economic issues is likely.

He criticized the government for converting social and economic problems into security issues by criminalizing actions such as protests and opposition to social media censorship, rather than addressing the underlying problems.

Armaki emphasized that soaring prices, especially in housing and healthcare, along with the rapid depreciation of the Iranian currency and widespread poverty, are placing immense pressure on Iranians. He noted that while government officials occasionally acknowledge these issues, they have yet to propose any meaningful solutions.

The sociologist warned, “If this situation continues, protests are likely to erupt in the near future.” He criticized the government for downplaying serious issues in energy, housing, poverty, and social delinquency.

He urged the government to acknowledge its limitations and focus its resources on meeting the nation’s basic needs, such as ensuring the proper distribution of essentials like bread, water and energy.

Former Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli echoed these concerns, telling the press that “the extent of accumulated demands and dissent in Iran is a serious cause for concern.” He noted that the current situation is even more troubling than in 2019, when hundreds of thousands protested against rising fuel prices.

During that sudden wave of unrest in over 100 cities, the government swiftly responded with military and vigilante forces, resulting in the deaths of 1,500 protesters, according to a Reuters estimate.

Meanwhile, the IRGC-linked newspaper Javan criticized hardliners in the parliament (Majles), warning that “while protests more intense than those of 2019 loom on the horizon, opponents of President Pezeshkian and even some who backed him in the election are wasting time and energy trying to unseat him and his ministers.”

Javan warned that this could trigger a series of deep-rooted political crises in the upcoming Iranian year, which begins in about four weeks. The newspaper suggested that the situation could worsen if combined with “foreign operations,” likely referring to potential Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

In a similar vein, conservative commentator Mohammad Mohajeri criticized hardline lawmakers for pushing to impeach Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, accusing him of “failing to improve the country’s economic situation.”

Mohajeri criticized the hardline lawmakers, saying, “The MPs think that dismissing the minister will improve the economic situation, but their approach is like an ugly man trying to calm a crying baby by making faces—his appearance only made the baby cry even harder.” He added, “You are the problem. It’s your actions that have created these insurmountable challenges.”

Several reports in Iranian media on Monday highlighted the severity of Iran’s economic crisis and the financial struggles facing its citizens. The conservative Nameh News website noted, “The government's inefficiency is worsening the economic crisis, compounded by significant shortcomings in sectors such as energy, housing, and healthcare.”

Economic expert and a well-known businessman, Majid Reza Hariri, told Nameh News that when he questioned some MPs about their push to impeach the economy minister, they admitted, “The situation might get worse, but we need to show our voters that we are just as dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.”

Commenting on the Pezeshkian administration's weaknesses, Hariri remarked, “I believe we effectively have no government, as no one is willing to take responsibility for the economic problems.”